A second straight win for Kiama Downs SLSC at Broulee has seen South Coast club Caves Beach jump to first place in the 2022 Premiership Sharkskin Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB), meaning the Premiership win comes down to the final weekend on Ocean Beach on June 25-26.
The heavyweight clubs have been neck and neck since the series’ opening race at Terrigal, with no more than 20 points ever between the two on each of the three race weekends.
Indeed, the Broulee stage of the Premiership delivered the tightest results yet, with the Hunter club only 11 points behind Kiama Downs, meaning they will be chasing a win as the Premiership shifts north to the Central Coast for the final round of racing.
The podium on the Far South Coast was rounded out by South Maroubra, who narrowly beat Thirroul to claim their first top-three finish of the series and finish in the top six overall.
Fifth and sixth places for Terrigal and Newport, respectively, meaning they are now mathematically out of the running for the overall win.
Batemans Bay volunteer IRB driver Anthony Bellette said it was fantastic to have a stage of the Premiership hosted by one of the southernmost clubs in the state. Hopefully, it will catalyze more interest in racing clubs in the region.
“I looked at them and thought, ‘God, I wish I did it again!'” he said.
“Everyone went to university, and we lost all the enthusiastic young people in it. It’s so much fun, it’s such a great sport.
“IRB racing is very important. You definitely notice the driver and crews racing together and know each other very well, they know their boats inside and out, and they know how to read each other and get into big swell and rescue situations; it’s important to know who you are with and can rely on your crew.
“IRB racing definitely helps refine those things, and all the guys that were the beach, you colly see their skills. It was just amazing to watch.”
Anthony was involved in a major rescue operation just minutes from the shoreline on Sunday, which you can read more about here.
Round 4 of the Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership takes place at Ocean Beach over the weekend of June 25-26.
OVERALL POINTS SCORED AFTER ROUND 3:
Kiama Downs 28
Caves Beach 26
Terrigal 15
Newport 13
Thirroul 10
South Maroubra 10
Queenscliff 8
North Cronulla 5
Avalon Beach 2
North Avoca 0
Maroubra 0
Nobby’s 0
Helensburgh Stanwell Park 0
Bondi 0
Bungan Beach 0
Coogee 0
ocean beach 0
Tuesday 14 June 2022